The dress which these soldiers wore was a jacket similar to that of the ordinary Light Dragoons, but with the addition, for the officers, of an embroidered cuff and collar, a pair of enormous epaulettes, and an aiguillette. The cap was very high with a square top, made of cane covered with cloth of the colour of the facings of the regiment, a brass plate in front and a plume at the top of it. The privates' dress corresponded to that of the officers, but brass scales were worn on the shoulders instead of epaulettes. The Cossack shape of trousers was worn by the officers, very full around the waist but gradually tapering down to the foot.[5] [5] Luard, "A History of the Dress of the British Soldier," p. 106. George IV, as is popularly known, gave much thought to matters of dress. He held that wrinkles in a uniform entirely spoiled all appearance of correct military bearing. The soldiers of his time were therefore expected to put on their clothes and have all fullness cut out. Luard says that the consequence was that the coats of the privates, as well as those of the officers, were made so tight that freedom of action was much restricted, and the infantry could with difficulty handle their muskets, whilst the cavalry could scarcely do sword exercise. There is no doubt that, though the uniforms of this date were uncomfortable, they were of a smart and attractive appearance. The officers in the Rifle Corps, for instance, wore a tight-fitting green outfit with silver facings, relieved by a bright scarlet belt. The boots were of black leather, and reached almost up to the knees. The hat was somewhat like the Highland bonnets of to-day. The officers in the 10th Hussars were a trifle more showy in appearance. They had a blue coat with gilt-braided plastron, and a pelisse on the left arm. The trousers were red and skin-tight, and fastened under the instep to keep them from creeping up the leg. The hat was a shako surmounted by a large dark plume. In the 1st Foot Guards the officer's coat was red, and had tails; there were epaulettes on the shoulders and a white bandolier across the breast. The hat was a high-decked shako of glossy material. William IV's reign was marked by the rise and subsequent decline of enormous bear-skins. William also decreed that the whole of the Army, with the exception of the artillery and riflemen, should be dressed in scarlet, the national colour. When Victoria came to the throne she restored the blue dress to the Light Dragoons, but not to the Lancers nor to the 16th Regiment. The Household Cavalry were given helmets with weeping plumes fixed to the apexes. A little later "pill-boxes" became fashionable amongst the majority of the regiments.